Adjustable basketball system and method of use thereof

ABSTRACT

An adjustable basketball system is provided. The system includes a sleeve positioned in a substantially vertical orientation with respect to a surface upon which the system rests. The system further includes a post configured to be inserted partially within the sleeve to functionally engage the sleeve. The system further includes a basketball backboard coupled to a portion of the post not inserted within the sleeve, the basketball backboard further including the basketball rim. The system also includes an actuator that is functionally coupled to the sleeve and the post, wherein actuation of the actuator axially transitions the post with respect to the sleeve to reposition the backboard with respect to the surface.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of the earlier U.S. UtilityPatent Application entitled “ADJUSTABLE BASKETBALL SYSTEM AND METHOD OFUSE THEREOF,” Ser. No. 14/577,864, filed Dec. 19, 2014, which claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application entitled “ADJUSTABLEBASKETBALL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF,” Ser. No. 61/922,506, filedDec. 31, 2013, now pending, the disclosures of which are herebyincorporated entirely herein by reference.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

This disclosure relates generally to sports equipment and in particularto an adjustable basketball system and method of using the same.

State of the Art

Basketball systems are utilized to hold a basketball backboard and rimat a predetermined height to allow players to play the game ofbasketball. Some basketball systems may be set up on opposing sides of abasketball court to allow opposing teams or players to play full-courtbasketball. Some recreational, and even residential, basketball systemsmay be set up on any flat surface to allow basketball players to play agame of half-court basketball. Basketball systems may be fixed in theground or may alternatively be portable.

Some basketball systems allow for the backboard and rim to be adjustedfor height. A standard, regulation basketball backboard and rim systemis set at 10 feet above the ground surface. However, some recreationaland residential backboards may be adjustable in a step-wise manner sothat the rim is positioned between 7 feet and 10 feet from the ground.These adjustable basketball backboard systems appeal to recreationalplayers, players of relatively average size, players with limitedvertical leap, or young basketball players, many of whom wish to executeshots and slam dunks on the lower rim like they see from professionalbasketball players on a regulation rim.

However, these adjustable basketball systems can pose problems. They canbe cumbersome to operate, in that they may require a certain amount ofstrength to adjust the backboard and rim. These systems may also becomeinoperative if the specific tool needed to perform the desiredadjustment is lost or broken. These systems can be impossible to operatefor those that do not have the requisite strength or cannot reach themechanism to adjust the system, such as children or disabled persons,such as wheelchair basketball players. These systems can bend and breakover time due to exposure and use.

In addition, conventional adjustable basketball systems typically haveheight adjustments that range from 7- to 10-feet in predeterminedincrements of six inches. As a result, these predetermined heightincrements limit the basketball system to a certain number of presetheight positions during play. These preset positions confine, orotherwise restrict, the playing height of the system and/or theresulting vertical jump of the player to these preset positions. Thislimits children and other athlete's development from being able to setthe basketball system exactly to their athletic physical abilities. Inaddition, it limits athletes recovering from injury experience relatedabilities to achieve complex physical acts related to knowing preciselyto what speed and height they can push their athletic abilities in orderto grade the activity/recovery of their athletic skills. This limitsinjured recreational athletes, professional athletes as a group andhigh-level amateur athlete's recovery time by restrictingphysical-cognitive proficiency to the predetermined heights.

Furthermore, although video recording devices can be attached toadjustable basketball system backboards for video playback they arelimited to the predetermined height positions. This limits athletesrecovering from injury experience related abilities to process complexdynamic visual scenes in order to grade the activity of their athleticskills, such as, vertical jump. This limits injured recreationalathletes, professional athletes as a group and high-level amateurathlete's recovery time by restricting perceptual-cognitive expertisewhen reviewing recorded training sessions.

In view of the foregoing, there is thus a need in the industry for animproved adjustable basketball system that addresses the concerns anddifficulties described above.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to sports equipment and in particular toan adjustable basketball system and method of using the same.

An aspect of the present disclosure includes a basketball systemcomprising a sleeve, a post configured to be inserted partially withinthe sleeve to functionally engage the sleeve, a basketball backboardcoupled to a portion of the post not inserted within the sleeve, and anactuator functionally coupled to the sleeve and the post, whereinactuation of the actuator axially transitions the post with respect tothe sleeve to reposition the backboard.

Another aspect of the present disclosure includes the basketball systemtransitioning between an operational position and a stored position.

Another aspect of the present disclosure includes the basketball systembeing electrically operated via a control and a control unit.

Another aspect of the present disclosure includes a method of adjustinga basketball system, the method comprising providing a sleeve securedrelative to a surface upon which the system rests, functionally engaginga portion of a post within the sleeve, coupling a basketball backboardto a portion of the post outside the sleeve, and axially transitioningthe post with respect to the sleeve by a linear actuator coupled to eachof the post and the sleeve to reposition the backboard.

The foregoing and other features, advantages, and construction of thepresent disclosure will be more readily apparent and fully appreciatedfrom the following more detailed description of the particularembodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference tothe following figures, wherein like designations denote like members:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an adjustablebasketball system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of an adjustable basketballsystem in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of an adjustable basketballsystem in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of an adjustable basketball systemin accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a partial side view of an embodiment of a sleeve and base ofan adjustable basketball system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a partial section view of an embodiment of a sleeve and baseof an adjustable basketball system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 7A is a section view of an embodiment of a sleeve and a post of anadjustable basketball system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 7B is a zoomed in view of a portion of the section view of thesleeve and the post of the adjustable basketball system depicted in FIG.7A.

FIG. 8A is a side view of an adjustable basketball system in accordancewith an embodiment.

FIG. 8B is another side view of an adjustable basketball system inaccordance with an embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A detailed description of the hereinafter described embodiments of thedisclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way ofexemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures listedabove. Although certain embodiments are shown and described in detail,it should be understood that various changes and modifications may bemade without departing from the scope of the appended claims. The scopeof the present disclosure will in no way be limited to the number ofconstituting components, the materials thereof, the shapes thereof, therelative arrangement thereof, etc., and are disclosed simply as anexample of embodiments of the present disclosure.

As a preface to the detailed description, it should be noted that, asused in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms“a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents, unless the context clearlydictates otherwise.

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1-7 depict an embodiment of anadjustable basketball system 10. Embodiments of the system 10 maycomprise various structural and functional components that complementone another to provide the unique functionality and performance of thesystem 10, the structure and function of which will be described ingreater detail herein. Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise, amongother components, a sleeve 20, a post 30, an actuator 40, and abackboard assembly 50.

Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise a sleeve 20. The sleeve 20 maycomprise a first end 22 and a second end 24. The sleeve 20 may comprisea through bore 25 running from the first end 22 to the second end 24.The sleeve 20 may be rectilinear in its cross-sectional shape, so as toform a square tube. The through bore 25 may have an interior surface 26.The sleeve 20 may comprise a connection member 28 coupled to the secondend 24 of the sleeve 20. The connection member 28 may be configured tohave coupled thereto and rigidly support the actuator 40. The sleeve 20and the connection member 28 may be comprised of one or more metals oralloys, such as zinc, magnesium, titanium, copper, iron, steel, carbonsteel, alloy steel, tool steel, stainless steel, aluminum, anycombination thereof, aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, magnesium alloy,copper alloy, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials.

Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise a post 30. The post 30 maycomprise a first end 32 and a second end 34. The post 30 may berectilinear in its cross-sectional shape, so as to form a square tubemember. The post 30 may be a hollow tube member having a through bore 35therein. The post 30 may have a cross-sectional shape that communicateswith the cross-sectional shape of the through bore 25 of the sleeve 20.The post 30 may be configured to be inserted within the through bore 25,such that at least a portion of the post 30 is encased by the sleeve 20.Indeed, the post 30 may have an exterior surface 36 that may beconfigured to functionally communicate with the interior surface 26 ofthe through bore 25 of the sleeve 20. Also, the post 30 may comprise aconnection member 38 that may be coupled to the post 30. The connectionmember 38 may be configured to be able to couple to the post 30 and yetpermit the second end 34 of the post 30 having the connection member 38coupled thereto to be inserted within the through bore 25 of the sleeve20. The connection member 38 may be configured to have coupled theretoand rigidly support the actuator 40 extending within the through bore 35and coupling to the connection member 38. The post 30 may furthercomprise a cap 51 positioned on the first end 32. The post 30 and theconnection member 38 may be comprised of one or more metals or alloys,such as zinc, magnesium, titanium, copper, iron, steel, carbon steel,alloy steel, tool steel, stainless steel, aluminum, any combinationthereof, aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, magnesium alloy, copper alloy,any combination thereof, and/or other like materials.

Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise the post 30 and the sleeve 20being configured to structurally engage and functionally communicatewith one another to permit the post 30 to axially advance in and out ofthe sleeve 20 or to at least axially transition within the sleeve 20with respect to the sleeve 20. The sleeve 20 may be configured tosupport, embrace, retain, hold, or otherwise secure the portion of thepost 30 that has been inserted therein so as to hold the entire post 30in a position that is substantially axially aligned with the axis of thesleeve 20. Thus, if the sleeve 20 is positioned in a substantiallyvertical and upright position, then the sleeve 20 may be configured tolikewise hold and secure the post 30 in a substantially upright andrigid position, such that the post 30 is prohibited from pivoting ortilting with respect to or dislodging from the sleeve 20, without theapplication of undue force. Further, the sleeve 20 and the post 30 maybe configured to prohibit the post 30 to rotate or spin within thesleeve 20. The rectilinear cross-section of the sleeve 20 and the post30 sliding within the sleeve 20 operate to prohibit the post 30 fromrotating or spinning within the sleeve 20. The engagement of the sleeve20 and the post 30 may be a friction fit, but the friction fit may beforgiving enough to permit the post 30 to axially transition in and outof the sleeve 20 with the application of predetermined force.

Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise an actuator 40. The actuator40 may be any device capable of moving or controlling the movement ofthe post 30 with respect to the sleeve 20. The actuator 40 may beoperated by a source of energy, such as electrical current from a DCand/or an AC power source, hydraulic fluid pressure, pneumatic pressure,or other like energy source. The actuator 40 may be configured toreceive the energy and convert the energy into mechanical motion.Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise the actuator 40 being a linearactuator, powered by electric current, having a stroke length and speedsuitable to transition the post 30 with respect to the sleeve 20 apredetermined distance within a predetermined time frame. The electriccurrent may be provided by a battery, a rechargeable battery, solarpanels, a generator, electrolytic cells, an utility AC power outlet, orany combination thereof.

Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise the actuator 40 havingopposing ends, a first end 42 on actuator rod 41 and a second end 44 onactuator cylinder 43. The first end 42 may be releasably coupled to theconnection member 38 of the post 30. The first end 42 may alternativelybe fixedly coupled to the connection member 38 of the post 30. Furtherin the alternative, the first end 42 may be coupled to a bracket, brace,strut, support, or other coupling member that is positioned on andcoupled to the connection member 38, such that the first end 42 may becoupled to the connection member 38 via the bracket, brace, strut,support, or other coupling member. The second end 44 may be releasablycoupled to the connection member 28 of the sleeve 20. The second end 44may alternatively be fixedly coupled to the connection member 28 of thesleeve 20. Further in the alternative, the second end 44 may be coupledto a bracket, brace, strut, support, or other coupling member that ispositioned on and coupled to the connection member 28, such that thesecond end 44 may be coupled to the connection member 28 via thebracket, brace, strut, support, or other coupling member. With the firstend 42 of the actuator 40 being coupled to the connection member 38 andthe second end 44 of the actuator 40 being coupled to the connectionmember 28, upon activation of the actuator 40 the actuator 40 exertsforce on each of the connection members 38 and 28. Due to the fact thatthe connection member 28 is coupled to the sleeve 20, which does notmove, the force exerted by the actuator pushes on the connection member38 to axially transition the post 30 with respect to the sleeve 20. Inother words, upon activation of the actuator 40, the actuator 40functions to push against the connection members 28 and 38 to distancethe connection members 28 and 38 from one another. However, because theconnection member 28 does not move due to its relative position with thesleeve 20, the operation of the actuator 40 functions to displace theconnection member 38 within the through bore 25 of the sleeve 20, whichdisplacement axially transitions the post 30 within the through bore 25along the length of the axis of the sleeve 20. In this way, the actuator40 may be configured to raise and lower the post 30 in and out of thesleeve 20. Additionally, the system 10 a bushing 49 coupled to first end22 of sleeve 20. The bushing 49 may have an inner dimension of sidesthat engage and outer surface of post 30.

Additionally, each side of the post 30 may include four apertures 80formed in each side of the post 30 located at the second end 34. Thepost 30 further includes a roller 82 operationally coupled within eachaperture 80. This allows for four rollers 82 to be located on each sideof the post 30 for a total of sixteen rollers 82. The rollers operate tohave fours rollers 82 on each side of the post 30 to engage an innersurface of the sleeve 20 that corresponds with or is adjacent to theside of the post with the rollers 82. The bushing 49 and the rollers 82cooperate with each other to assist in maintaining post 30 and sleeve 20in a coaxial relationship as the post 30 is raised and lowered in andout of sleeve 20. Further, the rollers operate to reduce friction, wearand damage to the post 30 as it slides out of and into the sleeve 20during raising and lowering of the hoop. This further prevents bindingof the components and damage to the actuator 40.

Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise the actuator 40 beingconfigured to be housed within the sleeve 20 so as to be out of sight.The actuator 40 may be positioned within the through bore 25 of thesleeve 20 and at a position between the connection member 28 and thepost 30. In particular, the actuator 40 may be configured within thethrough bore 25 of the sleeve 20 and at a position between theconnection member 28 and the connection member 38 of the post 30.

Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise the actuator 40 beingconfigured to have a stroke length that is sufficient enough totransition the post 30 a desired displacement distance within the sleeve20, but not sufficient enough to eject the post 30 completely out of thesleeve 20. The desired displacement distance may be a distance between 1and 4 feet in certain embodiments. The desired displacement distance maybe 2 to 3 feet in certain embodiments. The desired displacement distancemay be 3 feet in certain embodiments. The actuator 40 may be configuredto be operated and/or controlled via a control. The control may be arocker switch box with various operational controls thereon. Forexample, the control may be configured to have an on/off switch, an upor down switch, and/or a standby mode. The control may be configured tohave preprogrammed height adjustments that correspond to a predetermineddesired displacement distance. The control may be configured to beprogrammable to set one or more of the predetermined desireddisplacement distances to a specific switch on the control. The controlmay be configured to operate the actuator 40 to transition the actuator40 in predetermined step-wise displacements. The control may beconfigured to transition the actuator 40 to any displacement distancewithin the stroke length of the actuator 40. Once transitioned to thedesired distance, the actuator 40 may be configured to hold or otherwisemaintain the displacement distance until the control is again operated.In this way, the operator of the system 10 may set the desired height ofthe basketball backboard system 10 by operation of the control thatdirects the function of the actuator 40. The post 30 may be furtherconfigured with a height indicator that visibly displays to the user theheight of the rim 56 at any given displacement distance.

Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise a backboard assembly 50. Theassembly 50 may further comprise an arm 52, a backboard 54 and a rim 56.The arm 52 may be configured to be releasably coupled to a portion ofthe post 30 that is not functionally engaged by the sleeve 20. The arm52 may be configured to have coupled thereto the backboard 54. Thebackboard 54 may have coupled thereto the rim 56.

Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise the system 10 being fixedrelative to the ground by use of a base 70. The base 70 may beconfigured to be anchored in the ground and/or anchored in concrete.

Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise the repositioning of thebackboard assembly 50 continuously at any point along a range betweenthe maximum and minimum height achievable by the system 10, per theconfiguration of the sleeve 20, the post, and the actuator 40, asdescribed above.

A method of operating the system 10 may comprise coupling a sleeveadjacent a surface used as a basketball court, functionally engaging aportion of a post within the sleeve, coupling a basketball backboard toa portion of the post outside the sleeve, and axially transitioning thepost with respect to the sleeve by a linear actuator coupled to each ofthe post and the sleeve to reposition the backboard.

The method may further comprise providing electric power to the system,activating the actuator via a control, operating a camera, operatingspeakers to play music, pivoting the basketball backboard between anoperational position and a stored position, and transporting the systemfrom one location to another.

Referring to FIGS. 8A-8B, a portable adjustable basketball system 100 isdepicted in accordance with an embodiment. The system 100 includes aportable base 102, a post 103, a lower adjustable support 106, an upperadjustable support 108, a backboard assembly 50 and a linear actuator40.

In embodiments, the post 103 may be coupled to the portable base 102.The post 103 may be coupled at an acute angle with respect to theportable base 102. A post support 112 maybe be coupled between the post103 and the portable base 102 to provide additional support to the post103 and to hold in an operable, playable position.

The upper adjustable support 108 is pivotally coupled to the backboard54 with a pivot pin at a first end 109 of the upper adjustable support108 and pivotally coupled to the upper portion of the post 103 with apivot pin at a second end 110 of the upper adjustable support 108. Thelower adjustable support 106 is pivotally coupled to the backboard 54with a pivot pin at a first end 105 of the lower adjustable support 106and pivotally coupled to the post 103 below the upper adjustable support108 with a pivot pin 113 at a location between a second end 107 and thefirst end 105 of the lower adjustable support 106. The adjustablesupports 106 and 108 operate to adjust the height of the backboardassembly 50 and more particularly the height of the hoop 56 between ahighest height H2 and the lowest height H1.

The linear actuator 40 is pivotally coupled on a first end to the postwith a bracket 104 and pivot pin and pivotally coupled on a second endto the second end 107 of the lower adjustable support 108 with a pivotpin. The linear actuator 40 moves the backboard assembly 50 to thehighest height H2 when the linear actuator 40 is in a fully retractedposition. The linear actuator 40 moves the backboard assembly 50 to thelowest height H1 when the linear actuator 40 is in a fully extendedposition. The linear actuator 40 may be operated and stopped at anyposition between the fully retracted and fully extend positions, therebysetting the height the backboard assembly 50 at any height between thehighest height H2 and the lowest height H1.

The components defining the above-described system 10 may be formed ofany of many different types of materials or combinations thereof thatcan readily be formed into shaped objects provided that the componentsselected are consistent with the intended operation of a basketballsystem of the type disclosed herein. For example, and not limitedthereto, the components may be formed of: rubbers (synthetic and/ornatural) and/or other like materials; glasses (such as fiberglass)carbon-fiber, aramid-fiber, any combination thereof, and/or other likematerials; polymers such as thermoplastics (such as ABS, Fluoropolymers,Polyacetal, Polyamide; Polycarbonate, Polyethylene, Polysulfone, and/orthe like), thermosets (such as Epoxy, Phenolic Resin, Polyimide,Polyurethane, Silicone, and/or the like), any combination thereof,and/or other like materials; composites and/or other like materials;metals, such as zinc, magnesium, titanium, copper, iron, steel, carbonsteel, alloy steel, tool steel, stainless steel, aluminum, anycombination thereof, and/or other like materials; alloys, such asaluminum alloy, titanium alloy, magnesium alloy, copper alloy, anycombination thereof, and/or other like materials; any other suitablematerial; and/or any combination thereof

Furthermore, the components defining the above-described system 10 maybe purchased pre-manufactured or manufactured separately and thenassembled together. However, any or all of the components may bemanufactured simultaneously and integrally joined with one another.Manufacture of these components separately or simultaneously may involveextrusion, pultrusion, vacuum forming, injection molding, blow molding,resin transfer molding, casting, forging, cold rolling, milling,drilling, reaming, turning, grinding, stamping, cutting, bending,welding, soldering, hardening, riveting, punching, plating, and/or thelike. If any of the components are manufactured separately, they maythen be coupled with one another in any manner, such as with adhesive, aweld, a fastener (e.g. a bolt, a nut, a screw, a nail, a rivet, a pin,and/or the like), wiring, any combination thereof, and/or the like forexample, depending on, among other considerations, the particularmaterial forming the components. Other possible steps might include sandblasting, polishing, powder coating, zinc plating, anodizing, hardanodizing, and/or painting the components for example.

While this disclosure has been described in conjunction with thespecific embodiments outlined above, it is evident that manyalternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of thepresent disclosure as set forth above are intended to be illustrative,not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the present disclosure, as required by the followingclaims. The claims provide the scope of the coverage of the presentdisclosure and should not be limited to the specific examples providedherein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A basketball system comprising: a rectilinearsleeve with a through bore having first end and a second end arectilinear cross-section and a first end and a second end; arectilinear post with a through bore having a first end and a secondend, the post configured to be inserted partially within the sleeve andto functionally engage the sleeve, wherein the post comprises fourrollers on each side of the post located at the second end of the powerand the sleeve comprises a bushing coupled to the first end of thesleeve such that the rollers engage the inner surfaces of sides of thesleeve and the bushing engages outer surfaces of the sides of the post;a basketball backboard assembly coupled to a first end of the post; andan electric linear actuator comprising an actuator rod and an actuatorcylinder, the electric linear actuator located within the sleeve and theactuator cylinder is coupled directly to the sleeve with a connectionmember and the actuator rod is coupled directly to the post with aconnection member, wherein actuation of the electric linear actuatoraxially transitions the post in and out of the sleeve to reposition aheight of the backboard assembly, and wherein the bushing and therollers cooperate with each to maintain the post and the sleeve in acoaxial relationship as the post is raised and lowered in and out ofsleeve during operation of the electric linear actuator.
 2. The systemof claim 1, wherein the post comprises four apertures formed in eachside of the post, the apertures located at the second end of the post.3. The system of claim 2, wherein the post further includes a rolleroperationally coupled within each aperture.
 4. The system of claim 3,wherein the rollers operate to reduce friction, wear and damage to thepost during transition of the post in and out of the sleeve.
 5. Thesystem of claim 1, comprising a control electrically coupled between theactuator and a power source, wherein the control comprises a switch,wherein the actuator operates in response to operation of the switch. 6.The system of claim 1, further comprising a control for operating theactuator.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises aremovable memory coupled to the input/output port for storing photos andvideo captured by the camera.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein thecontrol comprises a power source.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein thepower source is one of AC power, a battery, a solar panel orcombinations thereof.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the backboardassembly comprises a backboard and a rim.
 11. A portable basketballsystem comprising: a post coupled to a portable base at an acute anglewith respect to a front of the portable base; a post support coupledbetween the post and the portable base to provide additional support tothe post and to hold in an operable, playable position; an upperadjustable support is pivotally coupled to a backboard with a pivot pinat a first end of the upper adjustable support and pivotally coupled tothe upper portion of the post with a pivot pin at a second end of theupper adjustable support; a lower adjustable support is pivotallycoupled to the backboard with a pivot pin at a first end of the loweradjustable support and pivotally coupled to the post below the upperadjustable support with a pivot pin at a location between a second endand the first end of the lower adjustable support, wherein the upper andlower adjustable supports operate to adjust a height of the backboardassembly; a linear actuator pivotally coupled on a first end to the postwith a bracket and pivot pin and pivotally coupled on a second end tothe second end of the lower adjustable support with a pivot pin, whereinthe linear actuator moves the backboard assembly to a highest heightwhen the linear actuator is in a fully retracted position and to alowest height when the linear actuator is in a fully extended position.12. The portable basketball system of claim 11, wherein the linearactuator is operated and stopped at any position between the fullyretracted and fully extend positions, thereby setting the height thebackboard assembly at any height between the highest height and thelowest height.